Take-Two Condemns Australian Retailer's Decision to Ban GTA V

[Steven Bogos]

Take-Two Condemns Australian Retailer's Decision to Ban GTA V

Take-Two's president says Target/K-mart Australia's ban on GTA V [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138879-Australian-Retailer-Target-Pulls-GTA-V-From-Shelves-For-Violence-Against-Women] "flies in the face of everything that free society is based on."

Earlier this month, we ran a rather interesting story on how two major Australian retailers decided to introduction of an R18 rating in the country [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138879-Australian-Retailer-Target-Pulls-GTA-V-From-Shelves-For-Violence-Against-Women] was supposed to stop this kind of nonsense. Now, Take-Two's president has come out swinging at Target and Kmart, openly condemning the ban, and stating that it "flies in the face of everything that free society is based on."

"It's one thing for someone to not want to buy a piece of content, which is completely understandable," Take-Two president Karl Slatoff said during a presentation at BMO Capital Markets 2014. "And that's really the solution. If you don't like it and it's offensive to you, then you don't buy it. But for a person or a group of people to try to make that decision for millions of people..."

"We have 34 million people who bought Grand Theft Auto, and if these folks had their way, none of those people would be able to buy Grand Theft Auto. And that really just flies in the face of everything that free society is based on. It's the freedom of expression, and to try to squelch that is a dangerous and slippery slope to go down."

Slatoff went on to state that while he was incredibly disappointed in Target and Kmart, ultimately, the decision doesn't really have any effect on the company at all. "Our business is going to be completely unaffected by this; it doesn't make a difference to us. At the end of the day though, it's not something you want because it's a poor leadership decision."

"Australia is relatively small for us, and two retailers are relatively small in the context of Australia," Slatoff said. "There are other places for folks to buy Grand Theft Auto in Australia."

Ouch, Target and Kmart. Do you guys need some cream for that sick burn?

Source: Gamesindustry.biz [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-12-09-take-two-if-you-dont-like-gta-dont-buy-it]


Permalink

 

[AntiChri5]

Well, duh. If i were selling stuff and a retailer caved to a petition to stop stocking it i would condemn them too.

 

[Vault101]

[quote/]"flies in the face of everything that free society is based on."[/quote]
*snrrrrrrrrrk*

oh come on really?

[sub/]I don't actually think this is as big a deal as everyone is making it out to be[/sub]

 

[Ticklefist]

T2 has another self righteous public whinge after being punched in the wallet. Doesn't happen often but they do it every time.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Did they at least return the copies they had stocked on their shelves to Rockstar?

 

[Erttheking]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

Well at least I have evidence to counter the claim that this incident will pressure developers into changing their games.

 

[RicoADF]

As he said, Target and Kmart are tiny in the gaming circles even in Australia, JB HiFi or EB games would be more concerning though.

 

[NiPah]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

Nothing was said about being required to stock GTA, Take-Two condemned them because of the reason Target/Kmart chose to not stock the product.
If a store chooses not to stock a product because they want to push their views (or in this case, the views from the deceitful petition) then yes it flies in the face of a free society.

A free society simply refers to a society given the freedom to choose (in this case rather to purchase certain items).

In the grand scheme it means nothing to Take-Two, but it's weird how many people defend the action taken by Target and Kmart, meh.

 

[Erttheking]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

Nothing was said about being required to stock GTA, Take-Two condemned them because of the reason Target/Kmart chose to not stock the product.
If a store chooses not to stock a product because they want to push their views (or in this case, the views from the deceitful petition) then yes it flies in the face of a free society.

A free society simply refers to a society given the freedom to choose (in this case rather to purchase certain items).

In the grand scheme it means nothing to Take-Two, but it's weird how many people defend the action taken by Target and Kmart, meh.

I fail to see the difference.

And? Rockstar pushes their views in their video games all the time. Why the Hell shouldn't a company be allowed to not sell a game because of their views? If a mom and pop drug store says they don't want to sell GTA V are they pro-censorship?

And the people in charge of Kmart and Target CHOSE to not sell games. They're allowed to make choices too you know.

Because people don't always automatically agree. And personally I find the attitude being emulated towards the two stores to be along the lines of "I'm ok with people making choices, so long as they're choices I agree with."

 

[Neverhoodian]

[quote/]"flies in the face of everything that free society is based on."

*snrrrrrrrrrk*

oh come on really?

[sub/]I don't actually think this is as big a deal as everyone is making it out to be[/sub][/quote]That Vault's a Spy!

And no, I suppose it isn't a huge deal in the grand scheme of things...but then, the same could be said of video games in general. Yet here we are, going out of our way to discuss it on a forum dedicated to the medium.

If you don't like it and it's offensive to you, then you don't buy it. But for a person or a group of people to try to make that decision for millions of people...

I feel that this here is the crux of the whole thing. I never played Duke Nukem Forever, but I saw the controversial level "The Hive" on Youtube ("Looks like you're...fucked."). I found it offensive and misogynist, but I never advocated that the game be removed from store shelves.

Putting up with stuff you don't like is an inescapable fact of life. It's part of the downside of living in a society that allows freedom of expression, but it's a hell of a lot better than the alternative.

 

[Vault101]

If you don't like it and it's offensive to you, then you don't buy it. But for a person or a group of people to try to make that decision for millions of people...

I feel that this here is the crux of the whole thing. I never played Duke Nukem Forever, but I saw the controversial level "The Hive" on Youtube ("Looks like you're...fucked."). I found it offensive and misogynist, but I never advocated that the game be removed from store shelves.

Putting up with stuff you don't like is an inescapable fact of life. It's part of the downside of living in a society that allows freedom of expression, but it's a hell of a lot better than the alternative.

I have a real issue with that argument though, its dismissive and absolves them of any responsibility for the things they make (or is used as a way to silence criticism)

I'm not saying stuff should be banned (always) but this idea that "artistic integrity" is a holy infallible thing I don't think is always good

Nothing was said about being required to stock GTA, Take-Two condemned them because of the reason Target/Kmart chose to not stock the product.
If a store chooses not to stock a product because they want to push their views (or in this case, the views from the deceitful petition) then yes it flies in the face of a free society.
.

the petition wasn't *that* deceitful in a sense that GTA kind of is a shitty portrayal of woman

 

[NiPah]

Spoiler

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

Nothing was said about being required to stock GTA, Take-Two condemned them because of the reason Target/Kmart chose to not stock the product.
If a store chooses not to stock a product because they want to push their views (or in this case, the views from the deceitful petition) then yes it flies in the face of a free society.

A free society simply refers to a society given the freedom to choose (in this case rather to purchase certain items).

In the grand scheme it means nothing to Take-Two, but it's weird how many people defend the action taken by Target and Kmart, meh.

I fail to see the difference.

Publix (a local grocery store in America) didn't stock GTA but Take-Two didn't condemn them for it, because they're a grocery store and never stock video games.
Target/Kmart Australia didn't stock GTA because a false petition said it wasn't ethical to sell the game, Take-Two condemned them for this.
Both are cases where a retailer choose not to stock the product, the only difference is their reason, it should be clear.

And? Rockstar pushes their views in their video games all the time. Why the Hell shouldn't a company be allowed to not sell a game because of their views?

Because those views are incorrect, I don't judge Target and Kmart for not selling hardcore pornography but I do judge them for not selling GTA on the grounds of a false inflammatory petition.

And the people in charge of Kmart and Target CHOSE to not sell games. They're allowed to make choices too you know.

And people are allowed to condemn them for poor choices.
Hobby Lobby chose to not cover preventative care and contraception in the healthcare for their employees, they had the right to chose to do this under US law, and I had the right to condemn this and never go to their store again.

Because people don't always automatically agree. And personally I find the attitude being emulated towards the two stores to be along the lines of "I'm ok with people making choices, so long as they're choices I agree with."

It's easier to disagree with everyone if you see them as hypocrites, but it can also lead to ignoring other viewpoints since you've automatically grouped them as idiots.

 

[ZiggyE]

Really disappointed to see people defending and supporting this Jack Thompson-esque bullshit.

Yes, Target and Kmart are allowed to choose not to stock GTAV, no one is denying that. But we're also allowed to criticise it and call it out for the nonsense it is.

 

[Baresark]

[quote/]"flies in the face of everything that free society is based on."

*snrrrrrrrrrk*

oh come on really?

[sub/]I don't actually think this is as big a deal as everyone is making it out to be[/sub][/quote]

It's not that big of a deal. I understand the sentiment, but the blow back for this is much bigger than the impact. Those stores are only losing themselves business. But the games media have latched onto this, so why not take the free press by commenting on it.

OT: I am surprised more companies aren't jumping on for some free press. There is no reason to be offended by it not being sold at a certain chain. We all know that if people want the game, they are getting it. It's just not worth worrying about.

 

[Kmadden2004]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

I think he was aiming that comment at the people campaigning to have the game removed in the first place, rather than the stores.

 

[Erttheking]

Snip

I don't care what their reasoning was, it was their choice. People are allowed to make unpopular choices in this world. Ok the petition wasn't false. It lied and stretched the truth, but the signatures were real. The outrage was there.

OH! We get to decide what views people are allowed to have now, do we? Tell me, what other viewpoints are "Wrong."

Yeah you are. It's still hyperbolic when you call it censorship though, because you're hypocritically saying that they're denying people to make choices while they themselves are exercising their ability to make a choice, implying that it's wrong for them to express their views while criticizing them for keeping people from expressing their views. ESPECIALLY when you just declared someone's viewpoint as "wrong". You can't have it both ways.

This coming from the person who more or less just said that he thought it was weird everyone didn't agree with the viewpoint that he had. And I'm saying the people in this situation are hypocrites because they're ACTING like hypocrites. If something is blue, I'm gonna call it blue.

 

[Erttheking]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

I think he was aiming that comment at the people campaigning to have the game removed in the first place, rather than the stores.

It's half and half. He criticizes the people who signed the petition, but he also said he was disappointed in Kmart and Target.

 

[Kmadden2004]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

I think he was aiming that comment at the people campaigning to have the game removed in the first place, rather than the stores.

It's half and half. He criticizes the people who signed the petition, but he also said he was disappointed in Kmart and Target.

Well then, I don't really see what's unreasonable about that reaction.

 

[Erttheking]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

I think he was aiming that comment at the people campaigning to have the game removed in the first place, rather than the stores.

It's half and half. He criticizes the people who signed the petition, but he also said he was disappointed in Kmart and Target.

Well then, I don't really see what's unreasonable about that reaction.

It just rubs me the wrong way. Like they have some sort of moral obligation to sell Rockstar's games. Like they're somehow lesser for not.

I don't know. It just sounds kinda arrogant.

 

[TrevHead]

Well did we honestly expect them to have any other kind of reaction? And against everything free society stands for, oh what? They HAVE to sell your game or they're dirty communists or something?

I think he was aiming that comment at the people campaigning to have the game removed in the first place, rather than the stores.

If he attacked the ppl who made and signed the original petition T2 might risk the wrath of SJW's. Going after the retailers and talking about free speech gives them the morally high position safe from the riskof being branded an oppressor of women or whatever.

edited since I missread your comment, sorry it's way past my bedtime.